Lunchtime left Remus wondering whether perhaps James had the right idea sneaking off to "mail something" while Sirius and Peter went back and forth at each other. Though he was no match for Sirius with a wand, when Peter let himself loose he did seem to know all the right buttons to press to agitate a person. It was particularly true of Sirius and even more so since he'd revealed his odd relationship-by-mail with the muggle girl from James's hometown. Still, it shouldn't have taken this long for James to send something off and make his return. If he wasn't careful the rest of the student body was likely to start filing in as well, depriving him of the plus-sized portions he tended to prefer after a morning of Quidditch.

Glancing around the room he found the Slytherin table quite full, especially given the hour. Snape sat at the center of a large gathering of them, his normally pallid complexion seemingly slightly warmer than usual. It was probably all the attention. He continually gestured to something in front of him on the table and as he did, the other students seemed to lean in intently. Suddenly though the black of the boy's hair was replaced in Remus's field of vision by his cold eyes. The blond wizard scowled right back despite the distance between them, but rather than look immediately away, one corner of Snape's mouth curled upward in a smug half-grin before he said something that caused the group to dissolve into laughter. Remus frowned, turning his attention to his watch.

"Will you shut up already, you toss pot?!" Sirius barked.

Remus's eyes snapped back to his two friends, staring at each in turn before rolling his eyes.

"Something on your mind?" the dark-haired wizard continued.

"Nothing in particular," Remus shruggd. "I just wondered if you might be willing to shut up as well…"

Sirius stared at him for a moment.

"…toss pot."

Peter looked back and forth between the two.

Shaking his head, Sirius broke, his initial affronted stare giving way to a broad smile and a low chuckle.

"Surprised you stayed quiet this long. Usually you've broken us up by now."

"I was distracted," Remus said, tilting his head toward the gathering across the room.

"What's that little bugger up to? And what's he got there? Parchment?"

"Death Eater tryouts I bet," Peter piped in.

"Yeah, bloody right. Only thing that could make Snivelly so popular. Especially with that lot. Last people you'd want to spend time with…bunch of snobby purebloods. No surprise my brother's there."

Remus looked back quickly, scanning the area. Regulus? Sirius was right of course that his presence would be no surprise, but it was more shocking that he hadn't noticed Sirius's brother at first glance.

"Missed him, did you?" Sirius asked. "I told him first day this year he looked like a bloody girl with his hair like that, but apparently mummy and daddy insisted and precious didn't want to let them down."

With that kind of cue, the boy was easier to find. He was standing at the back of the bunch, seeming to survey proceedings with a careful eye. Remus had definitely dismissed the ponytail before, with its odd little bow keeping things together. It certainly wouldn't cause anyone to mistake him for a girl – the boy had far too sturdy a frame for that – but Remus couldn't help from snorting slightly. Regulus looked like a character from a centuries old painting. It gave new meaning to the fondness the Blacks had for the "old ways" as their followers called them.

"So, how's Grace?" Remus asked diplomatically.

Sirius stared back until Remus rolled his eyes. "Good I think. They've got different marks from us, the muggles. And apparently hers don't even count for two years!"

"Bit like ours," Peter shrugged. "We get four actually."

Sirius tilted his head slightly, looking off. "Yeah, I suppose. Anyway, she still hasn't bothered me to visit yet, so that's a fight for another day yet."

"She knows you're at boarding school," Peter offered. "A long way away so…"

Remus's attention was drawn away from his two friends' conversation by a lessening in buzzing voices that filled the Great Hall. Glancing toward the entryway it was easy to see why. James Potter walking toward them hand-in-hand with Lily Evans. He was surprised Lily had gone for it. While she wasn't short on confidence in most areas of her life, it didn't take even her usual sophistication to realize that this was…brazen…and that it would certainly make waves. He had, of course, seen the signs, but others – he spared a sideways glance across the room – would never have imagined such a scene in their worst nightmares. And then there'd be –

"What the hell?"

"Sirius…"

"Tell me this is a stunt, Moony. It's a prank on Snivellus. James grabbed her hand outside the hallway and there's…some sort of…sticking charm…or a potion."

"I don't know, it looks real to–"

"I know it looks real!" Sirius snapped, causing Peter to close his mouth and retreat into silence.

"Remus…"

"I don't know what you want me to say about it," the blond wizard whispered sharply through a grin as James and Lily finally reached them.

"Oi lads," James said, nodding. "Lily's going to sit with us."

Peter's eyes danced back and forth between Sirius and the pair.

Lily indeed sat, smoothing her skirt underneath her. "Thanks," she said simply, reaching for a napkin as Sirius glared at James sitting next to her. After several moments had passed in silence, she lifted her eyes up from her plate uncowed and looked at Sirius. "How was your night?"

"Fine," the long-haired boy grumbled.

Then, Remus saw a dangerous glint in his eye.

"I actually spent most of it talking to James about which member of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team we could admire next match. I suggested Melody Hopkins, but he seemed partial to Riley Scanlon."

Lily cocked an eyebrow at James briefly. "Interesting," she said, looking back at Sirius and maintaining her smile. "I'd have thought she was more your pace."

Remus tutted. "You know, Lily, Sirius is actually dating a muggle who's just started a Cambridge this year."

She rolled her eyes. "So I've heard."

Though Remus fired a warning glance in his friend's direction, Sirius's scowl vanished in favor of smug grin. The long-haired wizard leaned back as well, crossing his arms and raising his chin into the air.

Sirius gave Lily a cheeky wink. "Anyone but you can see my charm is irresistible."

"Right…"

"So…" Peter started. "What's with the two of you?"

Sirius stared ahead while Remus forced himself to suppress a snicker at the bluntness of the question. Though he'd expected another quick retort from Lily, when he shifted his gaze back across the table, he noticed her looking to James. Her expression was still positive, soft even, but it was obvious to Remus that she was finished, at least for the time being, with both the repartees and doing all the talking.

James winked at her before staring down Sirius. "We're together. Clearly."

Sirius guffawed, nearly falling off the long bench he was sitting on with Remus and Peter. "Good one. What'd you slip her and how long 'til it wears off? I don't want to be anywhere nearby."

James immediately narrowed his eyes and his lips curled into an uncharacteristic frown. "Don't be an arse."

For once, Remus found his long-haired friend well and truly speechless. Taking a moment to enjoy the silence, Remus surveyed the Great Hall, which was now swollen with many more students. Extra eyes were on them now, that was for certain, and though it was not necessarily the first time, no one seemed to be laughing. Peter caught his eye as if searching for an answer. Remus merely shrugged.

"You're serious? Come on, Evans. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for you getting into the pranking spirit but this isn't your best effort. First of all, you should never start off with deception. Too difficult for a beginner. Second," he gestured at the pair seated side-by-side across from him, "it's not even believable."

Lily dug her fork into plate of food in front of her as James drew his face even tighter into a full scowl. He quickly turned his attention back to Lily, who had an irritated expression on her face. Remus could tell she was thinking, doubtless trying to respond before the sudden silence became an awkward one.

Then James had turned, cupping the side of Lily's shoulder with one hand. The contact immediately caused her to look up and squarely in his direction. As the three of them watched from their own bench, the same hand slid up before James reached under her hair, his fingers resting just below her ear with a thumb just between her jawline and cheek. Even Remus imagined she'd stiffen, but with his intention clear, the ever-studious, incomparably-reserved Head Girl seemed exactly of the same mind, bearing no resistance whatsoever as their lips connected in what appeared to be a perfectly natural kiss.

"Rubbish…" Sirius muttered. "They're just–"

Their lips opened again for a moment before meeting again for a second kiss that James had eased his head slightly forward to capture. As they parted, Lily looked around a bit, surely seeing the many mouths agape and hearing the flurry of whispers around them. Her eyes went to her plate again briefly, cheeks an extra shade of pink. James resisted smirking at Sirius, instead watching Lily's reaction, a smile finally crossing his face as she turned slightly to look halfway up at him, her one half of her lips curving up despite her continued blush.

"What just happened?" Peter asked.

"What the bloody hell do you think?" Sirius hissed. "He's lost it, absolutely lost it…"

Remus smiled. "Well…if I can intrude, I'll at least offer my congratulations."

"Thanks mate," James replied, already seeming happier than Remus had seen his friend in a long time.

"Congratulations?! They just kissed!" Sirius shook his head furiously. "No. I'm underestimating her. She's selling it. Selling it," he repeated as if hoping to convince himself.

Peter squirmed. "It seemed real enough to me…"

"Prongs…"

"Prongs?" Lily asked.

"Old nickname," James muttered hurriedly, shooting Sirius a warning glance.

"You're…with Evans?"

"I thought we'd already covered that bit."

"They might like a chance to eat without you acting mental," Remus intoned.

"Right…" Sirius stood up, looking at where he'd just been sitting as if he didn't recognize the place. "That they can do…I don't…Come on, Pete…"

Peter's eyes passed between James and Sirius, lingering on the long-haired boy as he started to wander toward the exit. Remus understood the conflict. Though Sirius was a…compelling personality, more a force of nature at times than an average wizard their age, James had been the one who'd welcomed both Peter and Remus as more than roommates, encouraging Sirius to let them into the twin orbit the pair seemed to have established almost instantly. Remus would stay. Peter would… Mouthing the word "brilliant" across the table as he stood and flashed his raven-haired friend a thumbs up, Peter followed Sirius out of the Great Hall, struggling to catch up to the boy's long strides with his own hurried little steps. Yes, Peter would go.

Remus turned his attention back to James and Lily. "He'll come around…" the blond wizard said, fixing his gaze on the redhead across from him in particular.

"You think?" asked James. "That was…I expected something, but it was rather over the top wasn't it?"

"No rather about it," Lily replied. She looked back and saw the slight frown on his face as he looked out the door. "Sorry…"

"Not your fault. He's just being a git."

The blond smiled at the pair. "Don't worry on it. He'll come around. You know he will. He was sore about–" Remus hitched, glancing at Lily.

"It's okay," she nodded.

"Right. Well, he was sore about Katie at first too. He's got enough on his plate with this muggle girl."

"Muggle girl?"

James chuckled. "Yeah. Grace. She summers in Stroud. They met at the market while he was staying with us."

"And they're going together?"

"Sure. I mean…it's by mail I guess. She's at something called 'uni' – don't really know what that's about, but it's supposed to be impressive apparently."

It was Lily's turn to laugh. "That's university. It's like academy, but for muggles."

"Ah." James raised his chin slightly and nodded.

"About to rag on academy, are you?"

Remus shifted his eyes back and forth between them.

"No…why would I?"

"I've just never imagined you'd give much thought to it."

"Well, I haven't. But that doesn't mean I look down on it."

"Weren't you planning on trying for the Ministry's, Lily?" Remus asked.

She bit her lip. "Yes. I've finished the application actually. Well…except for the recommendation."

"That's brilliant!" James smiled. "There's got to be loads who'll give you those. Top of the class. You'll be in for sure."

"Maybe. It's McGonagall's I'm worried about. You have to have your Head of House and…she hasn't given one out in a decade. She gave me a test actually. A question I have to answer before she'll do it."

James shook his head. "I honestly think she's sadistic sometimes."

"Says the one who she always gives full marks," Remus muttered.

Lily laughed. "Exactly."

When it stopped, the group let the silence hang, James and Lily looked to be taking the moment to really tuck in to the meals before them. The atmosphere in the room seemed to have returned to a relatively normal state, though there was, of all houses, a surprising number of Gryffindors casting furtive glances their way. Remus dithered over his last few bites. He looked up at his two housemates who, while pretending to concentrate on eating, were stealing furtive glances at each other. After a few passes, they caught each other, Lily blushing and James's tight expression expanding into a wide grin. He dropped his fork on his plate. Two pairs of eyes snapped to him.

Remus waved them off, standing. "Just finishing. Sorry."

"You're leaving too?"

"Not leaving. Well, not like the others anyway. Lily," Remus gave a small mock bow, "a pleasure, as always. James…don't get lost on the way to the dormitory."

Lily's mouth gaped. "Remus!"

The blond wizard merely winked before walking away. They needed the time.

Back in said dormitory, Sirius seemed to have lost all sense of reason. "Moony! You've decided to join us. Finally realized the type of madness we're dealing with have you?"

Remus rolled his eyes, heaving himself up on top of his bed. "I don't understand what you're so upset about."

"Prongs. Evans. You were there. What more do I need to say?"

"She's not a disease. She's top of the class, solid duelist on top of it–"

"It's Evans."

Remus scratched at his ear. "I think it's good for him. Besides, it's hardly surprising."

Sirius looked as if his eyes might pop out of their sockets. "Not surprising? What planet have you been on the last six years mate?"

"I talked to James about it last year," the blond shrugged. "Did you honestly think his shift in prank ideas was coincidental?"

Remus could feel the heat of Sirius's ire instantly redirected. "Last year?" he roared. "Last bloody year! And you didn't say anything. Merlin…sodding git…"

"He chose Katie."

"But he was thinking about Evans. At all. And you didn't find that remotely alarming. Or even worthy of mentioning."

"It was in confidence."

"He said that?"

"No, but I felt it was. I never told him about your…" Remus cast his eyes toward Peter.

"Don't."

"Don't what?" the smaller boy chimed in.

"Nevermind," Sirius snapped. He took a deep breath. "It's okay. You know, it's okay. Because this is new, and it's fun now…stretching the word fun there I'm sure…but it's new anyway and it'll wear off."

Peter cocked an eyebrow.

"What?!"

"Well, I don't think it's just going to disappear…" Peter offered. "If it's been on his mind for…I mean, who knows how long really. And even last year when she still barely gave him the time of day."

"You're not helping, Wormtail…"

The boy shrugged. "I just…I followed you, but I guess I'm with Remus. I mean…it's not that big of a deal is it?"

"It's a big deal," Remus said, breaking back into the conversation.

"It's an enormous one." Sirius scowled. "And he's making the wrong bloody one. Wrong all the way."

Peter looked befuddled. "Why's it so important?"

"It's seventh year. Everything we've got planned. Besides that it's seventh bloody year."

"So…"

"Well maybe you haven't thought about it a lick, but it's marrying year, Peter. Marriage. You want Evans to be part of our family?"

Remus shook his head. "You don't know they're going to get married. You're being dramatic."

"I am not."

"You are. None of us are traditionalists. James either. There's no clock ticking. And we all know he isn't going to rush it."

The blond wizard could see his friend's dark eyes boring into him from across the room. He'd stopped pacing the room, which Remus took as at least a marginal improvement. Though James had been friends with the other boy sooner, Remus had been the first to realize the extent of Sirius's volatility. Sure, he'd gotten heated when needled, even early on, but a seemingly normal comment about his family by one of the Slytherins in their year had landed Sirius two weeks of nightly detentions for punching the kid in the face and holding him at wand point in the first floor corridor.

"You need to let this go," Remus warned.

Sirius stayed silent, arms crossed and nostrils flaring.

"Padfoot…"

"Shut up, Remus. Just shut up."

"Hey!" Peter yelped, putting himself between the pair. "Calm down! Both of you!"

"What are you going to do about it?" Sirius sneered.

"It's not worth it…" Peter muttered.

"Seven bloody years…"

"You act like he's gone or something."

"Sod off," Sirius barked.

Peter frowned and looked down.

"You're making a real arse of yourself," Remus snapped back, but alas, Sirius was already on his bed with his curtains drawn. "He's silenced them hasn't he?"

Peter reached out tentatively with his wand. "Probare." The air rippled faintly. Peter nodded.

Remus rolled his eyes and simply waited for Peter to pick up the book and essay laying on the shorter boy's nightstand, though inside he seethed. This was exactly the kind of selfishness that always seemed to drive Sirius off a successful path. In a sense it was difficult to blame someone who had enjoyed so little control over their own life growing up for trying to extract it from time to time in his friendships. But on the other, Remus saw Sirius relishing his relationship by mail with Grace – one which had been facilitated by the generosity of James and his family – and trying to deny the same to his friend because he disliked Lily, or rather what he believed she meant for their group. He had, in typical fashion, regarded developing evidence of her interest in James with amusement when he believed it was unrequited, but now that it was real…he turned into a total prat.

Peter indeed turned to a book to pass the time until Sirius deigned to return to reality – or until James returned, whereupon there would be a far more intense shouting match. Remus tried to do the same, but his eyes kept wandering back to Sirius's bed and the stillness of the curtains.

"Get out," Remus snapped at Peter.

"Hey…" Peter cautioned, "don't…you know, don't do anything you'll regret."

"I won't," Remus said, his eyes never leaving the bed across the room.

"…so what should I tell James?"

"Tell him to stay out. Have a good time with Lily." He turned around and winked, "Whisper congratulations if she steps away for a moment. Yours too if you've got it in you." He regretted the way the last remark sounded as soon as he said it and expected a sharp retort, but instead he heard only the sound of footsteps shuffling down the stairs.

Crossing the divide between them, Remus reached in and dragged Sirius out of the bed by his collar, nearly dumping him on the floor due to their disparity in size.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"You are!" Remus shouted. "You're a selfish bastard."

"Yeah? Well, fuck you too!"

Remus shoved him in the back as he turned around.

Sirius whipped around and socked him back, his fist landing hard on the blond wizard's jaw.

As he turned back around, the gash on Remus's lip was already bleeding and he spat onto the floor to clear his mouth of it. "That mad are you? Is it because you're a hypocrite?"

Sirius swung again, missing. "Hypocrite? I'm a hypocrite?" He laughed. "You dole out all this advice…me…James…Peter. And what the hell do you do? You don't bloody follow it. Maybe you're the real coward of the bunch."

And then Sirius was reeling from a quick shot to the face. He reached up, pausing to look down at the blood on his hand before lunging forward. Remus dodged the attack and watched as his friend's head drove into the post of James's bed, shaking it badly while somehow avoiding cracking it.

"I'm the coward?!" Remus yelled. "You," he pointed, "you haven't shown yourself…your real self…to anyone, but us. In this room. Then only barely."

Sirius hung against the post panting.

"You're not losing James. Why can't you see that?"

"Fucking Evans…Why?"

"They're not so different. Aside from the whole 'rules' business. Not really. He makes her think. She makes him work. But they care about the same things."

"She hates pranks. She hates Quidditch."

"I'm talking about outside these walls…but you know that. You're just trying to ignore it."

Sirius wiped his nose with his hand again. "Damn. I never knew you had that in you, Moony. Without the wand, I mean."

Remus chuckled as they slumped down across from each other against the two nearest beds. He locked eyes with Sirius again. "All he's done for you…your best mate…you need to give him this," he said.

"Yeah…Can I at least give him hell?"

"About falling for the one witch he swore he never would? As long as you don't get in their way, you have my blessing to do so endlessly. That much he absolutely deserves."

Sirius snorted. "So…second lunch?"

Remus shook his head. "Too late. See, you shouldn't have stalked off. Now she'll be brainwashing him for hours."

"You're a sick one, mate…"

Remus kicked him. "Go finish your letter to Grace. Maybe omit the part where you were an unmitigated arse…"

"Yeah, yeah. Maybe you go ask out that Hufflepuff you've had your eye on…"

Standing, Remus stretched an arm out, pulling Sirius up.

A/N: Well…many moons later and Chapter 53 is finally complete. If you're still with me – thank you! A THOUSAND TIMES! If you're just signing on for the journey, I am always hopeful of more regular updates, but I make only two (2) guarantees: (1) I WILL finish this fic and (2) I will NOT start a new novel until I have. Thanks for reading and reviewing!